CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As the major championship season reaches its midpoint, this year`s Ryder Cup is now just four months away. The composition of both the United States and European teams remains undecided, with captains Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald continuing to evaluate players before making crucial final selections.
While Bradley himself is playing well and improving his position in the U.S. standings, Donald recently followed his appearance at the PGA Championship by scouting the Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York, the venue for the Ryder Cup from September 26-28.
“I`m going to have a quick look,” Donald commented.
The top six golfers from each team`s points list will automatically earn a spot on the roster. Additionally, both Bradley and Donald will each name six captain`s picks to complete their respective teams.
Here is an overview of the current situation for each team.
U.S. team
Locks to make the team
Scottie Scheffler
The world`s top-ranked player has returned to formidable form, highlighted by his third major championship title won at the recent PGA Championship. Scheffler will be eager for redemption after his 0-2-2 performance contributed to the U.S. team`s 16 ½-11 ½ defeat at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club near Rome in 2023. Notably, Scheffler and Brooks Koepka were routed 9&7 by Ludvig Åberg and Viktor Hovland in a foursomes match, marking the largest margin of victory in an 18-hole match in Ryder Cup history, leaving Scheffler visibly emotional.
Scheffler`s impressive driving distance and accuracy, combined with his elite iron play, should make him a potent asset at Bethpage Black. In his Ryder Cup debut at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin in 2021 (another lengthy course), he posted a 2-0-1 record during the U.S. team`s commanding 19-9 victory.
Xander Schauffele
Schauffele claimed two major victories last year and is once again performing at a high level after recovering from a bothersome rib injury earlier this season. His two previous Ryder Cup outings have been starkly different: a dominant 3-1-0 record at Whistling Straits contrasted with a 1-3 performance in Rome two years later. Regardless, he remains unquestionably one of the premier players globally.
Bryson DeChambeau
Few golfers can match DeChambeau`s length off the tee. He has consistently been in contention over the weekend in five of the last six major championships. He secured his second U.S. Open title last year at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina and featured in the final group at the Masters in April. Furthermore, his putting often goes underestimated.
After a challenging 0-3 start in his Ryder Cup debut in Paris in 2018, DeChambeau rebounded with a 2-0-1 record at Whistling Straits. His exclusion from the 2023 team was arguably a misstep. He is expected to be a crowd favorite at Bethpage Black and will undoubtedly infuse energy into the team room.
Justin Thomas
Thomas experienced a significant dip in form for two years, but he showed signs of recovery by winning the RBC Heritage on April 20 in South Carolina. While his play at the Masters wasn`t strong and he surprisingly missed the cut at the PGA Championship, he is likely to make the team if his form doesn`t deteriorate sharply again.
Thomas is renowned as one of the U.S. team`s most effective players in team formats, holding a 7-4-2 record across three appearances. His selection for Rome was debated, and he finished with a 1-2-1 record there, though few other U.S. players performed much better that weekend.
Collin Morikawa
Morikawa`s Ryder Cup journey mirrors Schauffele`s, with a strong 3-0-1 showing at Whistling Straits followed by a 1-3 record at Marco Simone. Although the two-time major winner hasn`t won since the Zozo Championship in Japan in October 2023, his current form suggests he is capable of securing a victory (or two) before the Ryder Cup. Morikawa is once again hitting the ball with the precision expected of a world-class player. Last week, he ranked highly on tour in strokes gained: tee to green (1.373) and approach (.930). His adaptable game makes him a strong partner for almost any teammate.
Should be on the team
Patrick Cantlay
Cantlay`s last tour win was the BMW Championship in August 2022. In 2024, he achieved top-25 finishes in three out of four majors, but he missed the cut at both the Masters and the PGA Championship this year.
Cantlay is a seasoned Ryder Cup participant and was among the better performers for the U.S. team in the last two events. He went 3-0-1 at Whistling Straits and 2-2 in Rome, where he faced scrutiny from European fans regarding the `hatgate` issue involving American players seeking compensation. Despite this, Cantlay remained unfazed. His career record in Ryder Cups is 5-2-1, and in Presidents Cups, it`s 10-4. Captain Bradley is unlikely to overlook such extensive experience and success.
Russell Henley
Henley is recognized as one of the world`s elite iron players and a proficient putter when in form. While not known for his length off the tee, not every player needs to be a long hitter. He secured his fifth PGA Tour victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on March 9, but subsequently missed the cut at both the Masters and PGA Championship.
Henley posted a 3-1 record at last year`s Presidents Cup in Montreal. His pairing with Scheffler resulted in two wins out of three matches, suggesting they could form an effective duo at Bethpage Black.
In contention
Brooks Koepka
The five-time major champion`s performance outside of the LIV Golf League has been inconsistent over the past two seasons, failing to finish inside the top 25 in his last seven major starts. Nevertheless, he is one of the most experienced American Ryder Cup players with a 7-6-2 record. Crucially, he won the 2019 PGA Championship held at Bethpage Black Course.
Harris English
English earned his fifth PGA Tour title at the Farmers Insurance Open in January and showed strong form in the last two majors, tying for 12th at the Masters and finishing second at the PGA Championship. The 35-year-old possesses sufficient length off the tee and is considered one of the top putters on tour. In his 2021 Ryder Cup debut, he recorded a 1-2-0 record.
Jordan Spieth
Spieth`s subpar play last season can likely be attributed to a painful wrist injury that necessitated surgery in August. There have been indications of his form returning, including a tie for fourth at the WM Phoenix Open and a 14th-place finish at the Masters. He missed the cut at Quail Hollow Club while attempting to complete the career Grand Slam. Although his performance in Rome was not stellar, his career Ryder Cup record is 8-9-5. It seems improbable that Captain Bradley would omit such an experienced player.
Brian Harman
Harman claimed his fourth tour victory at the Valero Texas Open on April 6. Some critics might argue that Bethpage Black is too long for his game, but he is an outstanding putter and has a history of success in match play as an amateur. The pairing of Homa and Harman was one of the few highlights for the American side in Rome.
Maverick McNealy
The former Stanford standout secured his first PGA Tour win at the RSM Classic in November. This season, he has also finished runner-up at the Genesis Invitational and tied for third at the Valero Texas Open and RBC Heritage. The 29-year-old would be a Ryder Cup newcomer but has previous team competition experience from the Arnold Palmer Cup and Walker Cup.
Keegan Bradley
Bradley has stated that he would only consider being a playing captain if he qualified automatically among the top six. However, if other American players don`t elevate their performance, Bradley might be compelled to select himself as a captain`s pick. The 38-year-old had six top-25 finishes in his first 11 starts and recently tied for eighth at the PGA Championship. It would be somewhat ironic, given that Bradley was a controversial omission by U.S. captain Zach Johnson in 2023.
Daniel Berger
Berger hasn`t won in over four years after being sidelined for extended periods by a severe back injury. He has made several appearances near the top of leaderboards this year and was a member of the victorious Ryder Cup team in 2021.
Max Homa
Homa`s game has been inconsistent for much of the past year, but he appears to be finding his form again. He tied for 12th at the Masters and played better at the PGA Championship than his tied-for-60th finish might indicate. In Rome, he was the U.S. team`s most successful player, contributing 3 ½ points with a 3-1-1 record. He also holds a strong 5-2 record in two Presidents Cups.
Other names to keep an eye on
Andrew Novak
Sam Burns
J.J. Spaun
Wyndham Clark
Michael Kim
Tony Finau
Lucas Glover
Denny McCarthy
Ben Griffin
J.T. Poston
Davis Riley
European team
Locks to make the team
Rory McIlroy
Although the Masters champion did not follow up his Augusta victory with another strong major challenge this past week (finishing tied for 47th at 3-over), he has already had a phenomenal season, and it`s only May. McIlroy`s wins at Pebble Beach, the Players Championship, and the Masters have firmly positioned him as the leading player on Europe`s Ryder Cup points list by a considerable margin.
Even without these wins, McIlroy is undeniably the leader and premier player on this European squad. He has previously stated that winning a Ryder Cup away from home is a significant career objective. With a Ryder Cup record of 16-13-4, he will have that opportunity in New York this September.
Jon Rahm
Jon Rahm had a notable week at the PGA Championship. Despite a difficult finish, he was genuinely in contention and held a share of the lead on the back nine of a major for the first time since his 2023 Masters triumph. Although the outcome was disappointing, Rahm expressed feeling revitalized by being in the mix again, stating it was the most enjoyment he`d had on a golf course in a while.
Rahm deferred questions about his Ryder Cup status to captain Luke Donald (he is currently 24th in the Euro standings), but there is virtually no doubt that Donald will include the three-time participant when making his captain`s selections.
Should be on team
Ludvig Aberg
Aberg`s selection for the European team in Rome was surprising primarily because the then-23-year-old was a rookie. In retrospect, Donald`s choice proved insightful and hinted at Aberg`s future success. Aberg is now among the world`s top players. Despite a challenging week at Quail Hollow and a recent dip in results, there should be minimal concern about Aberg, who already secured a victory earlier this year.
Sepp Straka
One of the surprises of the week was when Straka, who had just won the Truist Championship (his second PGA Tour win of the year), missed the cut at the PGA Championship. Fatigue might have played a role, as Straka has competed in 15 events already this season. Although he has now missed the cut in both majors this year, Straka is considered almost a certainty for the team, given his position in the standings (5th) and his previous participation in the last Ryder Cup alongside Aberg.
Shane Lowry
A top-15 player in the Official World Golf Ranking, Lowry isn`t a guaranteed lock solely because Rahm and McIlroy occupy their own elite category. The Irishman competed at the Masters before a disappointing final round and missed the cut at this year`s PGA Championship. However, Lowry`s overall game remains solid; he has four top-10 finishes this season and finished second to his friend, McIlroy, at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Their success as a team at the Zurich Classic suggests they are likely candidates to be paired together at Bethpage.
Tyrrell Hatton
Despite moving to LIV Golf, Hatton`s performance has remained relatively consistent, propelling him to fourth place in the European Ryder Cup standings. At Marco Simone, Hatton was a key player, achieving a 3-0-1 record in his matches, including a victory over Brian Harman in the Sunday singles. It would take significant circumstances for him not to be on the team.
Viktor Hovland
Hovland`s performance over the last 12 months has been intriguing. His swing mechanics continue to challenge him, yet he contended strongly at last year`s PGA Championship and won the Valspar Championship on the PGA Tour this season, immediately following three consecutive missed cuts. This volatility places Hovland 12th in the current standings, but like Aberg, his inclusion in blue and gold this September seems highly probable.
Tommy Fleetwood
Fleetwood may not possess a major title, but he is arguably one of the most consistent players without one. He has successfully made the cut in every event this season and recorded three top-10 finishes while still seeking his first PGA Tour victory. He is a top-15 player in the OWGR (7th in the Ryder Cup standings), and it would require a considerable downturn for him to miss the team.
In contention
Justin Rose
Many speculated that Marco Simone might mark Rose`s final Ryder Cup appearance. However, that assumption now seems premature. Not only did Rose come close to winning the Masters, but he also has three top-10 finishes this season and continues to play remarkably well. Do not rule him out.
Rasmus Hojgaard
The 24-year-old Hojgaard benefits from having been on the team previously at a young age, similar to Aberg. However, his season includes only one top-10 finish, achieved alongside his brother Nicolai at the Zurich Classic. Nevertheless, the prospect of nurturing his developing career through Ryder Cup experience remains a factor compared to selecting an older, more seasoned player.
Robert MacIntyre
MacIntyre, who debuted in the last Ryder Cup, presents a similar situation. While some perceived him as a potential weak link on the European team in Rome, he performed admirably with a 2-0-1 record in his matches. He is currently 15th in the standings.
Thomas Detry
Following his victory at the WM Phoenix Open this year, Detry entered the Ryder Cup discussion and has since risen to ninth place in the European team standings. However, his performance in the majors (two missed cuts) has not been ideal. He will likely need to improve his results over the coming months to give Captain Donald a compelling reason to select him.
Other names to keep an eye on
Aaron Rai
Stephan Jaeger
Nicolai Hojgaard
Alex Noren
Adrian Whitmore 
Benedict Kingsley